You may not think much about your child snoring or breathing through their mouth. If your child is dealing with ADD, struggling to keep up in school, or has trouble getting to the bathroom in the night, you may not be too concerned about a little snoring. But breathing disorders in children, such as obstructive sleep apnea, could be the root cause of these other issues!
Symptoms of breathing disorders include:
- Fatigue
- Snoring
- Bruxism (clenching and grinding teeth)
- Mouth breathing
- Attention Deficit Disorder
- Bedwetting
Sleep is incredibly important, especially for children as they grow and develop. Breathing disorders can cause a reduced amount of oxygen to reach the brain while sleeping, which makes the body and mind feel fatigued and can trigger the brain to go into a reactive state of hyperalertness—which in turn can lead to ADD.
But there’s good news: catching this problem early on (around the age of seven or eight) can allow us to treat the breathing disorder once and for all! Typical treatment for breathing disorders in children involves braces and an expander, and usually takes about 12 to 14 months. The use of an expander allows us to literally expand the palate of the mouth, allowing more room for airflow. In extreme cases, surgery to remove the tonsils or adenoids may be necessary to create more space.
Breathing disorders can cause a slew of problems for kids, from behavioral to developmental issues, and can even lead to health complications down the road as an adult. However, with proper treatment in childhood, breathing disorders can be corrected for good!
If you think you or your child may have a breathing disorder, call us at (480) 534-9643 today.